Is your site feasible to develop? Is it cost effective to do so? Those are some of the first questions you’ll ask yourself when narrowing down your list of prospective sites - and if it’s not, then it probably should be. Whether it’s a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ will of course depend on a few factors, but one of the most significant ones is topography.
By having a comprehensive understanding of the shape and features of a piece of land, you’ll save time and reduce costs, or at the very least, you won’t be hit with any unexpected bills. You might even find that there’s an opportunity to get creative with your development plans.
That’s where our new Topography layer comes into play. It’s designed to give you a clear picture of a site’s terrain and help you make informed decisions, faster. In this blog, we’ll explore the key topography insights that every property professional needs to know about, and how LandInsight can help.
Topography and site viability
When we talk about topography, we’re talking about the elevation, slope and aspect (that’s the direction of the slope) of a piece of land. Each of these play an important role when it comes to deciding whether or not a site is suitable for your next development.
- Elevation: Steep slopes can mean increased construction costs, or even render a site un-developable
- Slope: Generally, flat or gently sloping land is considered ideal for developers. More intense gradients can impact everything from construction to drainage.
- Aspect: The direction of the slope is directly connected to things like volume of sunlight exposure and level of airflow, and what you need will likely depend on the type of development you've got planned
Having full clarity over the elevation, slope and aspect of a piece of land will ensure you can quickly identify risks (and implement appropriate mitigation measures), rule out sites that simply aren’t feasible, and focus on the opportunities that align perfectly with your project plans.
Challenging terrain: Blocker or opportunity?
It’s easy to think that challenging terrain equals an instant ‘no-go’ in the site selection process, but different projects have different needs, and a little creative thinking really can go a long way - especially in this competitive market.
Here’s some examples of land features that are typically considered challenging, and how they could in fact be an opportunity.
Steep slopes
- Blocker: Steep and very steep slopes usually mean you'll have less buildable area, and these situations usually call for more complex construction techniques. For these reasons, most developers opt for flat or gently sloping land.
- Opportunity: There's a reason why Grand Designs is so popular, buyers love a unique selling point when it comes to property. So, why not consider getting creative with your design plans? Steep slopes offer opportunity for split-level homes, and clever landscaping could leave your development with big views and lots of privacy.
North-facing slopes
- Blocker: North-facing means less sunlight, and that’s not ideal for a few reasons. For residential developers, it’s a little more difficult to sell homes that feel dark and shaded, even when it’s glorious outside. For solar projects, less sunlight means less energy generated, so these sites likely won’t be at the top of your wish list.
- Opportunity: Contrary to popular belief, not all developments require sun exposure. Sites with north-facing slopes could be viable candidates for wind power projects (on slopes up to a 10% gradient) and since south-facing homes tend to be more expensive, developers working on affordable housing or entry-level home projects would be smart to consider the opportunities presented here.
Big elevation changes
- Blocker: Dramatic changes in elevation across a site instantly makes us think of two things: time and money. The cost of prepping a site like this is much more expensive, you’ll need to consider the need for any levelling work and the time it’ll take to get any foundational site prep completed. Then, there’s the question of drainage. These things combined would probably leave developers, particularly in the residential space, looking elsewhere for a suitable site.
- Opportunity: Before you write off the site completely, consider what your project needs. For wind power projects, elevation is a key factor in determining wind speed. Combine this by looking at the aspect, and you’ll see how the wind flows across the site. For residential developers, particularly those building luxury homes, there’s still a viable opportunity here. Like with steep slopes, big elevation changes give you the option to take advantage of the natural features of the land and build properties with unique characteristics: think tiered layouts that fully maximise the landscape views on offer.
How LandInsight can help
We’ve established that topography has a significant impact on the viability of a site, and while there are definitely challenges - these challenges can often lead to big opportunities. Helping you quickly rule out unfeasible sites and find those golden opportunities is what LandInsight was built to do, and our Topography layer is a crucial part of that.
With our Topography insights, you can:
- Visualise the elevation: We'll show you the highest and lowest points of a site and with contours and hillshade on the map, you'll quickly get a picture the overall difference in height
- See the gradient change of a slope: Our slope categories include flat, gentle, moderate, steep, very steep and prohibitively steep
- Assess the aspect: See the direction of any slopes imp[acting your site and the percentage coverage
- Generate reports that include topography: After you've saved a site, download your site report and any topography insights associated with the site will be automatically included
Ready to get started?
Our Topography insights are just one tool in our extensive - and very handy - toolbox. With Topography, you can reduce risk, make informed decisions and find new opportunities to help you stand out from the competition, and you’ll do it fast.
Topography is now available to all Unlimited customers. Simply head to LandInsight to get started. From here, you can toggle on topography in the Explorer on the left, or see topography insights in the Assessment panel when you select a site.
If you’re new to LandTech, click the button below to request a demo from one of our experts.
